Movie Review: ‘Alita: Battle Angel’

Welcome to the world of Alita: Battle Angel. It’s a cyberpunk dystopian future of interplanetary warfare and human-cyborg hybrids. The film is Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron’s adaptation of Yukito Kishiro’s popular manga series of nearly the same name, “Battle Angel Alita.”

We open on Dr. Dyson Ido (Christoph Waltz), a gifted scientist who specializes in cybernetic surgical procedures, walking a scrapyard on the outskirts of Iron City, a rusty, crime-riddled metropolis. He’s looking for parts discarded from Zalem, the last great “sky city,” which looms high overhead, filled with shiny buildings and one-percenters. Ido spots a young female android’s head and realizes that she is still viable.

After bringing her home, he fuses her to an expertly crafted body with the help of his assistant. The frame was made previously for Ido’s paralyzed daughter before her untimely death. And so, Alita (Rosa Salazar) is born, a memoryless, “hard body” outcast from Zalem.

Alita goes on a Jason Bourne-like journey, slowly uncovering memories via flashbacks and discovering that she’s got a highly lethal set of skills. And though Dr. Ido wants to protect his new daughter, she’s having none of it. Alita wants to use her newfound abilities to fight evil in Iron City and take on Zalem, specifically its maniacal puppeteer, Nova.

Also in Bourne fashion, our heroine falls in love with an unlikely partner along the way. Their syrupy teen romance is a little hard to take at times and comes across as a little contrived (Why does she think Hugo is so great? He’s kind of the worst.), but he serves a purpose, teaching her the ways of the world and helping her develop a human connection.

Given Cameron and Rodriguez created the movie, it’s really no surprise that it is filled with exciting visuals. Action-packed motorball — Iron City’s favorite sport — and fighting scenes ensure you’re never bored. Not to mention all the fun imagined tech and a lexicon of terms to describe it all.

However, there is a little too much going on. They were clearly trying to lay the groundwork for a sequel, but in doing so, jam-packed a little too much into the first film. It felt like it could have ended several times but just kept going.

Further, the talent was shamefully underused. Jennifer Connelly was given very few lines, and the audience is left wondering if they’re supposed to care about her character or not. Mahershala Ali is similarly underserved, though he does get a nifty Matrix-like wardrobe as consolation.

All in all, the film is fun — especially if you’re willing to spring for AMC’s RealD 3D — but lack of fine-tuning garners it a B rating instead of the A Kishiro’s creation deserved. Catch it in theaters today, Feb. 14.

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Erica Corbin hails from Washington State where she lived in a damp, cave-like environment (much like a nematode) for nearly her entire life. Though she is confused to see so much—what is the word?—sunlight, she is appreciating the experience in Los Angeles. Erica currently works as an editor for a wire service, and does freelance writing in her spare time. She has a passion for both cooking and consuming food, Hugh Jackman's jaw line, and telling people she has a huge passion for fitness. She also (maybe) genuinely thinks that the best era for film was the 80s. *Cue Rocky Montage*